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The University of Houston has maintained its position among the top 75 public universities in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Top Public School rankings, securing the No. 74 spot. This marks a slight change from last year's rank of No. 70. The university continues to make progress in key student success metrics, which remain central to its mission of improving educational outcomes.
"We are pleased to remain in the top 75 public universities, especially in such a competitive field," said UH President Renu Khator. "While rankings fluctuate, what matters most is our continued focus on student success and the steady progress we are making in that area."
In the latest rankings, UH improved its six-year graduation rate to 65%, reflecting a 14 percentage point increase since 2015. The one-year retention rate also saw gains, further emphasizing the university's focus on student success. Additionally, UH ranks No. 36 among all national universities for social mobility, demonstrating its commitment to creating opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. However, U.S. News removed metrics related to first-generation student success from their ranking methodology this year, causing UH to lose points compared to last year.
The U.S. News rankings measure various academic and student performance metrics and place UH in a highly competitive landscape where only five points separate it from the top 50 public universities. The university anticipates that as graduation rates continue to rise—particularly with a goal of reaching a 70% graduation rate—it will see more substantial movement in future rankings.
Beyond these rankings, UH continues to perform well across other academic disciplines:
- National Universities: #144
- Top Public Schools - National Universities: #74
- Social Mobility - National Universities: #36
- Best Undergraduate Business: #65
- Best Undergraduate Engineering (Doctorate): #79
- Best Undergraduate Nursing: #96
"As we continue our progress toward becoming a top 50 public university, our vision remains clear and our commitment to student success unwavering," Khator said. "We expect to see even greater gains as we build on the foundation we have set. Our community, students and supporters can rest assured that we will continue to strive for excellence in every area that matters most."
Earlier this year, UH broke into the top 50 in Forbes' rankings by climbing up 22 spots. Each ranking uses different methodologies and scoring systems that highlight various aspects of institutional success.